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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Alaska

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fairbanks Women sentenced in drug and money laundering conspiracy

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that two women from Fairbanks, Alaska, were sentenced in federal court in Fairbanks for their role in a Fairbanks drug and money laundering conspiracy.

Fabienne Clerc, 22, and Cynthia “Cindy” Hawks, 45, from Fairbanks, Alaska, were sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Clerc was sentenced to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Clerc had previously pled guilty to count two of an indictment charging her with money laundering conspiracy. Hawks received a sentence of 32 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Hawks had previously pled guilty to counts one and two in an indictment charging her with drug and money laundering conspiracy.

Clerc is the girlfriend of her co-defendant, Nathan Jackson, and Hawks is Nathan Jackson’s mother. Clerc accompanied Jackson on heroin sales in Fairbanks and conducted financial transactions with drug proceeds on Jackson’s behalf in order to conceal the nature, location, source, or ownership of the drug proceeds. Hawks conducted heroin sales in Fairbanks, and conducted financial transactions with drug proceeds on Jackson’s behalf in order to conceal the nature, location, source, or ownership of the drug proceeds.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized over $350,000 in cash proceeds from Jackson and his co-conspirators, as well as a 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2001 Toyota 4-Runner, two 2003 Sea-Doo Personal Watercraft, and an accompanying trailer. As part of their sentence, Clerc and Hawks forfeited any ownership interest they may have had in these items.

Nathan Jackson has pled guilty in this drug and money laundering conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced in November 2013, for his role in the conspiracy. Hailey Jelinek, Jackson’s sister, has pled guilty in this money laundering conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2013, for her role in the conspiracy.

Ms. Loeffler commended the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Alaska State Troopers for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Clerc and Hawks.